Half an hour later, after listening to Xin Zhi tell him about the situation in Luo, Cao Zhen again read the letter from the emperor, which was sealed with an imperial seal and he read it carefully several times.
Cao Zhen put down the letter, sitting motionless on the mat in the main hall of the Marquis General's residence, with a few tears still wet on the corners of his eyes.
"Zuo Zhi, do you know how much my heart hurts?" Cao Zhen's voice was light, as if he had no strength left in his whole body.
Xin Zhi sighed again: "How can I not know? Zi Dan, you and Wen Lü have grown up together, as close as brothers. The emperor also knows how deep your feelings are, so he specially sent me to comfort you."
Xin Pi, rarely, did not address Cao Zhen by his official title but called him by his character name instead.
Cao Zhen shook his head and asked, "So, does the emperor plan to attack Wu?"
Xin Zhi did not nod: "Maybe, who can say for sure?"
"I've already said this just now. Dong Zhao and Man Chong have been advocating for military campaigns in the southeastern regions, wanting to persuade the emperor to achieve victories there. The emperor has even agreed with them, and..."
Xin Zhi sighed again.
Cao Zhen sensed the dissatisfaction in Xin Zhi's voice and asked curiously, "And what?"
"And the emperor has also followed Dong Zhao's words, sending Chen Qun as the military governor of Yangzhou, as if he does not intend to set up a military commander in Yangzhou."
Cao Zhen counter-asked: "Zuo Zhi, are you worried that after the stability of the western region, the emperor will take away my authority as the military governor of the western region?"
Xin Zhi did not agree, remaining silent.
Among all the generals in the world, only Cao Zhen and Xin Zhi were the closest. Whether it be personal or political considerations, from a public affairs standpoint, they complement each other, one inside and one outside.
Not to mention that Xin Zhi's daughter-in-law is serving here under Cao Zhen.
Adding or removing one military governor would not harm Wei, but for Cao Zhen and Xin Zhi's families, the impact would not be negligible.
Cao Zhen stared at Xin Zhi for a few moments seriously, then said in a solemn voice, "Zuo Zhi, you know about my friendship with Wen Lü, but you don't know about my friendship with the emperor."
Xin Zhi raised his head and looked at Cao Zhen.
Cao Zhen said, "The emperor had a long and deep talk with me for an entire night before he returned to Luoyang from Chenping. The emperor's breadth of mind, ambitions, and magnanimity are a bit greater than what the court officials imagine."
Xin Zhi interjected, "I have always been by the emperor's side, and I can roughly guess what the emperor might say. Unifying the four seas, expanding the ancestral legacy, and bestowing titles on meritorious officials—isn't that right?"
Cao Zhen shook his head: "No."
Xin Zhi's expression was slightly shocked.
Cao Zhen said, "The Wei of the great Wei is the Wei of the Cao family, not just the emperor's Wei. The emperor believes that the path taken by the late emperor in treating his clan harshly was wrong. In governing the state and military affairs, scholars and warriors, members of the royal family and outsiders..."
"How to balance the court to allow the great Wei to last for four hundred years like the Han Dynasty, without becoming plagued by as many problems as the Han Dynasty. The emperor has thought about it a lot."
Xin Zhi calmly asked, "Have you two come up with an answer?"
Cao Zhen shook his head, "Such a grand matter, both the emperor and I have few ideas."
"But enhancing the power of the royal family to broaden the emperor's wings has become a settled matter."
"I have no doubt that the emperor will not take away my authority based on the promise he made to me at that time."
Xin Zhi bowed his hands in gesture: "For a ruler and subject to understand each other, that is truly good!"
Cao Zhen took a deep breath: "When did the emperor plan to visit Xuchang?"
Xin Zhi said, "Maybe after the new year. The emperor also said he would meet me in Xuchang."
Cao Zhen asked, "With constant wars and battles throughout the empire, it is truly hard on the emperor. The emperor sent you on this inspection tour; do you have any thoughts or plans in mind?"
Xin Zhi answered, "I have already made a plan."
"First, we go to Chenping, then follow the Wei River route to Shanggui, then through Qiushan to Taizhong, through Xiabian and Nanzheng back to Chenping."
"When I left, I brought two officials from the Secretariat to stay with Lu Sun and meticulously record the local geography and landforms."
Cao Zhen asked, "Lu Xun successfully resisted Zhuge Liang and Zhang Hao in Taozhong in May. What are the people saying in Luo?"
Xin Zhi looked at Cao Zhen, "Didn't the emperor commend Lu Sun and Zhang Hao?"
Cao Zhen shook his head, "I don't mean that. How do people in Luoyang and the court discuss this battle?"
"There's nothing much to say."
"Cao Zhen asked with surprise: "Ge Zhong two thousand troops into Taizhong, Lu Sun and Zhang Hao firmly defended for two months before forcing Zhuge Liang to retreat. There's no talk in the court?"
Xin Zhi helplessly explained, "With last year's great victory in seizing Hanzhong, everyone in the court compares Shu to a broken pot or a lowly chicken."
"Lu Xun and Zhang Hao forced Zhuge Liang to retreat in just two months. They even blame the two of them for not being able to handle their troops well enough."
Cao Zhen spat, "These scholars who know nothing about military affairs! Do they really think it's so easy to command troops?"
"Cao Zhen said, "Zhuge Liang's offensive this year has been unusually fierce. With only twenty thousand troops, it's impossible to hold out with Lu Sun's Qiang soldiers. Troops from Wudu and Longyou were mobilized to Taizhong, and more than thirty thousand soldiers gathered there. Even I went to Xiabian to supervise the situation!"
Xin Zhi sighed, "As long as the emperor knows, it's all right not to know in the court."
"Oh, have you heard, General? Shao Bo was appointed as the alternate administrator."
Cao Zhen was first taken aback, then he smiled: "When did that happen?"
Xin Zhi said, "It happened in September. Xiuming transferred Shao Bo to Youzhou, using the excuse of a successful military reform, and reported to the court for a promotion."
Cao Zhen's expression improved only now: "My Shao Bo, he seems to have the temperament of a military man, but he's always been rather soft inside since he was young."
"Cao Zhen said, "Two years ago, he achieved great victories in Yanmen, but it took him two years to become the alternate administrator. This experience is still beneficial to him. Has the emperor mentioned Shao Bo?""
Xin Zhi replied: "Huan Fan told the emperor about this. The emperor said that in a year or two, after Shao Bo has some military achievements at the border, he should be promoted to Xiaoju."
Cao Shuang left Luoyang in the first year of Taihe, first serving under Tian Yu in the Bing Province, and then was transferred to the Youzhou by Xiahou Xian.
During his service under Tian Yu, Cao Shuang cultivated good military skills. When Xiahou Xian trained the county troops in Youzhou, Cao Shuang also made significant contributions.
The two years of experience as a military officer at the grassroots level, with and without, make a difference.
Xin Zhi even felt that the phrase 'A formidable general must rise from the ranks' was sometimes being said about Cao Shuang by the emperor.
After discussing political affairs in Luo and new things, until they talked about Cao Shuang, the two of them were at a loss for words for a moment.
The atmosphere inside the hall returned to the sorrowful tone it was before.
Cao Zhen stood up and looked at Xin Zhi seriously and said, "I want to set up a remote sacrifice for the Grand Marshal in Chenping and hold it for seven days continuously!"
Xin Zhi also stood up and said, "That's the Grand Marshal's own matter; no one can interfere."
"Xin Zhi said, "The letter has been sent. I will stay in Chenping for one night and set off again tomorrow."
Cao Zhen asked, "Why not stay for a few more days?"
Xin Zhi replied, "If we stop for a few days at each place, I can return to the court earlier."
"To be honest, the court has been undergoing more changes recently. I'll try to return as soon as possible if I can."
Cao Zhen nodded, "I will assist you. What do you wish to inspect? I will send people ahead to prepare and ensure that you do not return empty-handed."
Xin Zhi looked at Cao Zhen and said, "You can take care of the sacrificial arrangements first. It's a long night, and I will also have a long conversation with you."
"Good!" Cao Zhen replied.
